Outline - Biltmore

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Biltmore Estate Outline


"How did the Vanderbilt family contribute to the community and environmentwith the building of the Biltmore Estate?"
Topics of Research:

Economic:

  • Jobs (pg. 23)Dairy (pg. 53) – created sales jobs all over NC and some of SC
    1. 300-400 workers on the estate as told by John Grice on the tour\
    2. “local unskilled day laborers”
    3. construction workers, landscapers, road builders, architects, engineers, brick masons, stonemasons, carpenters, cabinetmakers, blacksmiths, roofers, plumbers, plasterers

  • Poultry (pg. 56)
  • Pork (pg. 57)
  • Harvesting (pg. 59)
  • Kenilworth Inn (pg. 44)
    1. Poor management lead to financial issues, which Vanderbilt would save from bankruptcy on a number of occasions
  • Biltmore Village
    1. Previously Best, NC which was bought by G. Vanderbilt to build a town with high quality living and modern amenities. (Chapter 4 pg. 63)
  • Biltmore Industries
    1. (looking for primary sources from Edith dealing with the happenings of Biltmore Industries)
  • Tourism
    1. 1930- Asheville asked the Vanderbilt’s to open up their home to promote tourism during the depression.
    2. Cornelia: “Mr. Cecil and I hope that through the opening of Biltmore House to the public, Asheville and Western North Carolina will derive all the benefit they deserve and the people who go through the house will get as much pleasure and enjoyment out of it as Mr. Cecil and I do in making it possible. I also want to say that we both feel that in dong this, it is a fitting memorial to my father. After all, it was his life’s work and creation.” (pg. 128)

Environment

  • ForestryThe Conservatory
    1. Olmstead
    2. The Approach Rd./Bridge/Quarry (pg.45)
    3. Bass Pond and Lagoon – wildlife and flume technology (pg. 48)
    4. Gifford Pinchor
    5. “Biltmore as the birthplace of forestry in America”
    6. Schneck built bridges and roads to create successful plan

  • Pisgah National Forest (pg. 90)
    1. (Looking for letters and documents dealing with the selling of the land by Edith)
  • Tourism in the mountains (pg. 91)
    1. Educated people on the importance of nature
    2. “Looking Glass Rock” ease of access (pg. 97)

Social

  • Products were more readily available
    1. Jobs, dairy, poultry, pork, produce, plants
  • Biltmore Village (pg. 63)
    1. Clean, well-kept homes
    2. High quality living
  • Buildings
    1. Post Office
    2. Schools
    3. Churches
    4. Civic Buildings
  • All Souls’ Church (pg. 67)
    1. Vanderbilt paid for everything dealing with the church and expected nothing in return
    2. Very spiritual, but non-judgmental
  • Boys Club
    1. Edith provides money for a Boys Club to prepare young men for labor jobs
    2. Edith gets more involved to help bring young girls into the program, which then becomes the Boys and Girls Club
  • Charity
    1. Asheville Chapter of British-American War Relief Society
    2. Edith would deliver food and medicine to local community
    3. Educational and spiritual guidance
    4. Adult Literacy (pg. 109)
    5. Parish Day School – originally started for the children of the Estate (farmers’ children, etc), became so popular that children in the Biltmore Village started attending
  • Community Events
    1. Parties (pg.88) – Christmas party was thrown to open up the Estate in 1895
    2. Parades (pg. 80)
    3. Fall Harvest Fairs
    4. Cornelia’s Wedding
  • Farm Village and Community Living
    1. Built community of equality in what is now Asheville
    2. All kids played with Cornelia (pg. 101)
    3. Cornelia’s wedding included farm workers
    4. Workers stayed for years
    5. “Old Frank” story (pg. 120)